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` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented May 18, 1886.

R. GORNALL.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

(No Model.)

RICHARD GORNALL, OF BALTIMORE,

PATENT OFFICE.

MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE A. DUBREUIL, OF SAME PLACE.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,253, dated May 18, 1886.

Application tiled February l1, 1886. Serial No. 191,609. (No model.)

ratus, and is designed more particularly for lo use in stores where the cashicrs desk is located on'thc-iioor below or the floor above the salesroom. n

In the present case I have shown the apparatus as applied to a storewhere the desk of 1,5 the cashier is on the iloor below the sales` room.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure lis a side elevation of my improved way, representing the position of the salesman in the up- :e per part of the figure, and the lower iioor,

-with the position of the cashier, the wire being broken away to allow for the enlargement ofthe other parts, the carrier being represented at the cashiers desk in 'full lines and e at the salcsmans eounterin dottedlincs. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent details of the clutch. Fig. 6V is adetail view of the connection of the track with the standard and the operatingreel. Fig. 7is a modiiication of the device to be used at the cashiers desk. Figs. 8 and 9 represent details.

The salesmans counter is represented at A, and under this counter is secured a standard, B, which is braced upon one side in any suitable manner, as shown. From the other side, extending out horizontally a short distance, and curving to a vertical position, extends a metal track, C, which passes down through an opening in the door to a suitable distance 4o below the ceiling of the room beneath. The track is composed-of ilat bars set on edge, of any suitable size and weight. The standard B is slotted atl 2 3, as shown. An adjustable plate, a, is adapted to be secured adjustably 5 to the said standard by bolts passing through the slots therein. This plate a carries a lug, 4, the opening in which registers with that in a corresponding lug, which is secured suitably to the end of the track C, and this end of' the i track is thus secured to the standard by bolts 5o passing through openings in thelug. By these means it will be seen that the end of` the track may be moved adjustably up or down on the standard by means of the plate a, and that it may be turned on its connecting-pin to any angle desired. After the track has been set at a proper angle it-is supported in that position by means of a screw, 5, which passes through the lug (i and bears against the plate (t, thus taking up the strain. To the opposite end of 6o the track O, which is in the room beneath, one end of the wireway is attached. This wire extends from the end of the track, either in an inclined or vertical plane, to the eashiers desk, being shown inclined in the figure and attached to the track C', which forms a continuance of the way and curves upward, as shown. This curved sectional track C' forms part of the frame D, which consists of a vertical bar, b, having cross pieces or straps c c', 70 supported upon a standard, D. The frameis movable on said standard and is provided with a pulley between it and the standard at its lower end, and a pulley between the end of the strap c and the standard, near its center, 7'5 whereby all strain from the curved track and the tension on the wireway is taken up. Cords 5 and G are provided for lowering and raising this frame, said cords being arranged in a wellknown manner.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified view of the raising and lowering mechanism. In this figure the curved bar b', heretofore described, instead ot heilig a part of the moving frame, is moved directly by means of a cord con- S 5 nected thereto and passing over a pulley, as shown, said bar passing through guide bars 15, held on either side of the bar in the frame 1G, secured to a suitable bracket. Instead of having a raising and lowering device Vat this 9o end ot' the way, it is obvious that t-he wire may be secured to a curved track extending downwardly-such as that described in an application filed ot' even date herewith, Serial No. 191,608-or the way may be secured permanently to a suitable eyebolt.

The cash or parcel carrier is shown at E. Itis composed of a suitable box pivoted to rods 8, which rods pass upon either sides of the track and have a large pulley, 9, upon one side of the track and a smaller pulley, l0, supported upon asmall projection upon the other side of the track. From the rods 8, at right angles thereto, project similar rods, l2, with an angular projection upon their ends, having likewise pulleys upon either side of the track, so that the frame, which is composed of these rods, and consequently the carrier, is steadily held upon the track, and there is but little vibration thereupon. The rods 8 are of such length, and the cash or parcel carrier is pivoted so freely between them that it keeps invertical position, with its open side up inail the varying positions that the carrier-frame assumes.

In order to adapt the carrier shown with the'speeial'form oi' raising and lowering devices and curved track at the cashiers desk, I have provided a pivoted hook upon the forward end of the carrier, which is adapted to engage in notches inthe face of the curved track as the carrier mounts upon it from the impetus given to it by being impelled upon the way.` A pin projects from the headof the hook d, and when it is desired to release the carrier from the notched face of the track C the frame D is raised until the tail-piece of the kicker c strikes against they stud f on the standard, and the forward end of the kicker comes in contact with the pin on the hook, which it :lifts out of thenotch and allows it to descend by its own weight, and the impulse given by the curve of the track carries it along the way.

I will now describe the clutch mechanism for lowering the carrier from the upper floor t-o the iioor below and impelling it upon the 'way to the cashiers desk, and for taking the carr-ier from the lower door and elevating it to `the upper. The carrier-frame has a pivoted end piece, g, which is wedgeshaped on its end and slotted a little to the rear ot' the end. The carrier is connected to a clutch mechanisln by means of this end piece, and is carried along therewith. The clutch consists of a frame, IF, having a pulley, 7L, upon one side, and a similar pulley, z', directly opposite on the other side, of the track. To an eye projecting from one end of the clutch a windingcord is attached, which is secured to a reel at the end of the curved track under the counter, within convenient reach of the salesman. The reel is provided with a suitable pawl and-ratchet mechanism, and is adapt-ed to be operated in the ordinary manner.

A post, h', projects from one of the inside The-latch has an inclined face and enters the recess 7a2, which is formed in one corner ofthe way from the salesmans counter, beingheld under control of the salesman by means of the reel and cord, as hercinbefore described. The carrier and clutch descend the way thus locked until the forward end of the clutch meets the projection Z upon the lower end of the vertical track, when the carrier is released from the clutch by means of a depending arm on a lever, n, striking the projection Z, the said lever a having` a linger upon its forward end, which bears against a projection, o, on the latch i', 'which thus draws the end of the latch out of the recess k2, and the carrier, being in advance of the clutch and freed therefrom, is impelled by the momentum obtained by its vertical descent along the way to the eashiers desk. A stop, p, projects from the side of the track a short distance below where the carrier is released from the clutch, and this comes into contact with the rear wall of the clutch-frame and stops it at this point, as shown in detail figures. The front end of the clutch-frame is recessed in order to pass over this stop, and the carrier-frame is also, as shownin Fig. 9, adapted to pass this stop. The pulley h is groorcd deeply, as shown in the detail figure, in order that it may pass the projection Z, and the pulley 10 of the carrier'is also grooved inv like manner.

\Vhen the cashier is ready to return the carrier, he gives to it animpulse by hand, orby means of raising and lowering devices heretofore described or referred to, sufficient to carry it over the wireway and the track, which forms a continuance of the same, to the clutch which is atrest against the stop. The end piece, g, registers with the recess k2, and is thus locked in place and ready to be elevated to the -floor above, and this is done by the salesman winding upon the cord attached to the clutch, and as he continues to wind the clutch and carrier will rise up the vertical part of the track to the position shown in dotted lines, which will yplace the carrier into the position immediately under a suitable opening, which may be made in the counter to receive it.

Any suitable signaling apparatus may be used, if desired, by the cashier to notify the salesman that the carrier is ready to be elevated; but this will hardly be found necssary, as the salesman can see it at a glanccthrough the opening in the floor.

Instead of the track curving at the upper part, as shown, and having a horizontal portion, it may stop at the curve, or it maybe carried up vertically,` but the form shown is the form preferred. Suitable guiding pulley or pulleys may be used, as shown, for the winding-cord, if found necessary.

ICO

IIO

I do not limit myself to the particular construction of the carrier, as this maybe changed indefinitely. It will only be necessary that some means be connected therewith to adapt it to be secured to the clutch.

In order to control the descent of the car-` ricr and clutch from the upper to the lower story without rendering it necessary for the salesman to keep hold of the handle of the reel, I have provided the device shown in Fig. 8. This represents a detail view of the connection at the upper end of the track beneath the counter. Upon the end of the reel-shaft, opposite the handle, a gear-wheel, 16, is loosely Supported, which carries a pawl, 17, engaging with a ratchet, 1S, secured to the shaft. The gear 16 is in mesh with a pinion, 19, on the shaft of a fan, 20. This fan is composed of a hub having suitable spokes or arms, the fans proper being loosely supported, so as to slide thereon. Light springs upon the ends of the arms bear upon the fans. The result of the use of the fans is to allow the carrier to descend gently the vertical part of the track, and the result of the particular construction described is to cause the fans to act as a governor, moving by centrifugal force nearer the ends of their arms under increased weight, thereby serving to check uniformly the carrier, whether it contains much or little.

Instead of the form of retarding device shown, modiiications, such as shown in application filed by me of' even date herewith, may

be substituted.

I claim as my inventionl. In a store-service apparatus, the combination, with a way extending from one door to the one below, of a carrier mounted thereon, and a clutch mechanism moving on the way under the control of the salesman, detachably connected to said carrier and adapted to lower and raise it to or from the floor above, substantiall y as described.

2. In a store-service apparatus, the combination, with a -way extending from one floor to the iioor below, of a carrier mounted on said way, a clutch mechanism moving on the way under the control of the salesman, detachably secured to said carrier, and means, substantially as described, for releasing said carrier from said clutch mechanism and stopping said clutch, whereby the carrier continues on the way alone to the cashiers desk, substantially as described.

3. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a metal track extending from the upper to the lower iioor, the wireway extending from the end of said track to the cashiers desk, a carrier mounted on said way, clutch mechanism moving on the way, detachably connected with said carrier, means for lowering and raising said clutch under the control of the salesman, and means for releasing the carrier from the clutch mechanism, whereby it is impelled to the cashiers desk, substantially as described.

4. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a curved track, thcwireway extending from the lower end of said track to a curved section of track at the cashiers desk, a carrier mounted on the way and detachably connected to `a clutch mechanism moving on the way under the control oi the sales1nan,said clutch mechanism bei ng adapted to be lowered and raised, means for releasing said carrier from said clutch, means for raising said clutch, and mechanism for raising and lowering the track at the cashiers desk to return the carrier to the position of the clutch, the parts being constructed and operating substantially as described.

5. In a storeservice apparatus, the combination of a track from one iioor to the floor below having a carrier mounted thereon detachably connected to a clutch mechanism adapted to be raised and lowered by the salesman, said clutch mechanism consisting of a frame having suitable pulleys for its easy passage over the track, a recess adapted to receive the end piece of the carrier, a locking mechanism to hold the saine thereto, and

mechanism, substantially as described, adapted to be actuated by a projection on the track at the end of the vertical part thereof, to release the carrier from said clutch mechanism, substantially as described.

G. In a store-service apparatus, the combination, with a way extending from one iioor to the Hoor below, of a carrier mounted thereon consisting of a receptacle pivoted upon projecting arms, pulleys on said arms bearing on either side thereof, and arms projecting at right angles to the first set and provided also with pulleys at the other end, and mechanism for raising and lowering the said carrier, substantially as described.

7. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a way, a carrier mounted thereon having pivoted catch,the lowering and raising device under the control of the salesman, and a lowering and raising mechanism at the cash- `iers desk consisting of a curved rod having a notched face, substantially as described.

8. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a iixed stationary way between the upper and lower iioors of a store, a carrier mounted thereon, a raising and lowering device moving on the way detachably connected to said carrier under the control of the salesman, and mechanism, substantially as described, adapted to permit the gradual descent of the carrier, substantially as described.

9. In a store-service apparatus, the combination of a stationary way, a carrier mounted thereon, a raising and lowering device detachably connected to said carrier under the control of the salesman, and a fan in connection with the operating-reel, whereby the de IOC IIO

scent of the carrier is made gradual and under riei1 mounted thereon, a raising` and lowering In testimony whereof I have signed my name device detftehztbly connected to said carrier to this speeieetion in the presence of two under the control of the salesman, :L device subscribing Witnesses.

for permitting the gradual descent of the ciu'- rier under :111 condition of weight, consisting Vtnesses:

WALTER DoNALDsoN,

ISADORE MIDDLET0N- RICHARD GORNALL.

of the fan having sliding connections under spring-tension, substantially as described. 

